Sunday, September 27, 2009

The rain finally stopped this afternoon, so I went for a nice long walk through the City. I was traveling through Little Italy when I happened upon Lombardi's.

I have seen this on countless food and history channel shows, as it claims to be the "original" NYC pizzeria.

I have received dozens of pizza recommendations from viewers and twitter followers, but since I was standing right there (and hungry) I decided to grab a small pepperoni and take care of dinner and breakfast with one twenty-dollar bill.

The super-heated coal-fired oven gave the impossibly thin crust a great crisp, chewy texture that is the hallmark of New York's famous pies. It was delicious, but I won't call it the "best" yet, since I still have a couple days to sample.

Tomorrow I start a "seven video recipes in 48 hours" job in Brooklyn, which I've heard, from more than one person, is home to the best pizza anywhere. We shall see. By the way, on the same street as Lombardi's I saw "Rice to Riches," a place that just serves rice pudding. Dozens of kinds of rice pudding, and that's it.

I may have to check it out before I leave, and report back. Stay tuned!

13 comments:

I really like Grimaldi's, but I haven't had all the great Coal oven spots in the city yet. Really need to get to DiFarra's before the old man retires.

Grimaldi's is great, but the standard pie is a bit undersalted, give it a quick shake when it hits the table and it's sublime. But the experience of walking there over the Brooklyn Bridge, standing in the line (hopefully not too long), the gruff/friendly service makes it all so "New yawk."

Also make sure to try the "Classic Italain" joints that are popping up, Keste (West village, on Bleaker), and Una Pizza Napoliotano (east village, on 12th street and second ave, nextdoor to a place that only serves mac and cheese, are both well regarded.

Lombardi's: excellent excellent excellent pizza. (Although, there are about a billion other places to try so good luck finding "the one". You'll be 75 years old saying, "I hear that place in the lower east side has the best crust... 'croak').

Rice to Riches: the signs and menus inside are hilarious. I was asked to stop taking pictures inside. Touchy, touchy.I've never had rice pudding before. The very tasty flavors they offered just couldn't distract me from the feeling like I had a mouth full of maggots.

Lastly, if you like cookies (he says knowingly): The Levain Bakery, Upper West Side. Holy Shiite.

Try Lento's, it's on 3rd Avenue at about 70th Street, in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn, thinnest crust around. I haven't been there since the 60s but hear it's still around. I'm not sure if this place is still around but might be worth a look, it's also on 3rd Avenue between 73rd and 72nd Streets, a Swedish fish market with excellent to-go fish and chips, free vinegar.